The next day Alex laid in her bed in the attic, Peter and Bobby bring up eggs and toast on a tray. "Here's breakfast for you," said Peter. "Mom said since you didn't eat anything yesterday you have to eat breakfast,"
"But if you don't, I'll have it!" said Bobby Peter slapped the back of his head. "Ow!" Bobby rubbed his head.
"Thanks you guys," Alex said with a grin. "I am pretty hungry,"
"Well okay, eat up, we need to get to school" said Peter as they began to leave the room. "Bye Alex!"
After the boys left Jan and Cindy came up, each holding a glass of orange juice. "Here's a glass of orange juice for you, Alex," said Jan handing her the glass.
"Thanks," said Alex as she took a sip.
"And here's a glass of orange juice for you when you run out of orange juice in that one," said Cindy placing the extra glass on her nightstand. Then they left. Just when Alex has piece and quiet Greg runs up, but only half way because he's running late to school.
"Hey Alex, I was supposed to remind you to take your antibiotic," he said.
"Thanks Greg," said Alex. "But I already took it,"
"Okay great!" then he rushed down the attic to get to school.
Hours past and Mike returns from work, he walks into the kitchen. "Hey Alice," he says.
"Well hey," Alice responds with a surprise. "You're home early,"
"Yeah, I thought I'd come home early and help with Alex," he said. "How is she doing by the way?"
"She's doing better, her temperature went down to 102," she replied.
"Good, sounds like on the verge of her temperature breaking,"
"Lets hope,"
At Fillmore Junior High, Peter and Jan sit with each other at lunch, and they look over each other's schedules.
"Oh look," said Jan. "We have English together,"
"I can't wait to hear what Alex's schedule is," said Peter.
"Yeah," Jan adds. "I wonder how she's doing," At this moment Rachel Palmer walks up.
"Hey you guys, mind if I join you?"
"No," said Peter.
"Not at all," Jan added.
Rachel sits down next to Peter. "Say, where's that cousin of yours?" she asked.
"She's at home, she's sick with pneumonia but she seemed a little better this morning," replied Peter.
"Aw, I'm sorry to hear that," Rachel said. "But it's good to know she's doing better, pneumonia can be really serious if it's not treated, how do you think she got it?"
"Who knows," Peter replied with a shrug.
"Well I'm no doctor, but usually the first signs are coughing, sneezing, fever symptoms, flu symptoms,"
"Well she was coughing awfully a lot now that you mention it, but she has asthma so we didn't think too much of it, till she started to cough really bad the next morning,"
"How do you know all this?" asked Jan.
"Well, my dad is a doctor," replied Rachel. "So I know a lot of these things, but it sounds like you got it in time before it got too serious,"
A guy walked over and started shooting his mouth at Peter. "What are you doing sitting with my girlfriend?"
"What?" asked Peter confusingly.
"Rachel, you're sitting with my girl," he said.
"Stop Jason, just stop," said Rachel. "He's just a friend,"
"Whatever," he spat. "But if I catch him with you again, don't be too angry if I smash his teeth in," then he walked away.
Rachel rolled her eyes. "I've only been with him for four days and he's totally overprotective,"
"Then why are you with him?" asked Peter.
"Well, I like him, and I'm trying to show him it's okay to hangout with other guys, but it hasn't clicked in yet,"
Jason yelled from another table. "Rachel! Come over here!"
"But if he continues to be like this I don't think I will be with him much longer," said Rachel as she gathered her tray and got up. "See you two later," and she walked over to the other table. Jason glared at Peter that made him sweat.
"Uh, ah," Peter stuttered.
Jan looked over at him then shrugged. "What are you so afraid of Peter? He doesn't look that scary,"
"That's because he's not out to get you!"
"Peter, you're just thinking too much, Bobby could handle him. He's just trying to look scary to make sure you stay away from Rachel,"
Back at home Alex was in her bed in the quite house laying in her bed looking up at the ceiling. "Being sick is so boring!" she sighed. "I bet my fever broke by now," She grabbed the thermometer on her nightstand and put it in her mouth. A few moments later she read the thermometer. "Eh, 101. It's getting better,"
A little while after the kids all came home, and their questions were all the same. "How's Alex?" After all the kids visited Jan and Peter stayed up to have a chat with her.
"Alex, I know it's probably not the best time to ask you a question when you're sick but," Peter began.
Alex interrupted. "It's alright, I'm feeling much better and much stronger so go ahead,"
"Well, you know that new girl Rachel Palmer you met Saturday at the Ice Cream Parlor?" asked Peter.
"Yeah," Alex replied.
"Well she was sitting with us at lunch and her new overprotective boyfriend was busting on me and glaring at me because he saw me with her,"
"Yeah?"
"And he threatened me to beat me up if he saw me with her again, what should I do? I asked Jan, but she doesn't take the situation seriously,"
"May I add, Alex, that if you saw this guy you wouldn't take it seriously either," added Jan.
"Well if he's four foot and wimpy or six feet tall and buff I wouldn't let him tell me who I can or can't sit with," stated Alex.
"Well it's easy for you to say that, you don't have that situation and besides, he can't beat you up you're a girl," said Peter.
"Yeah, but I've gotten hit by guys before. But if I was in the same situation as you were except I was hanging out with some scary looking girl's boyfriend and she threatened me too, I wouldn't move." This was Alex's first time giving someone advice, these years being around Uncle Mike really rubbed off.
"You wouldn't?" asked Peter.
"No, besides if Rachel was really your friend, she'd break up with this guy for beating you up," Alex joked.
"That makes me feel a whole lot better," Peter said sarcastically.
"Peter, what I'm saying is, don't go through life worrying about something,"
"That's right," said Jan. "Just keep hanging out with Rachel and ignore him,"
"Yeah, I bet this guy is all talk anyway," added Alex.
"Well okay," said Peter still feeling a bit insecure about this whole situation. "I'll catch you later,"
"feel better," added Jan as the two walked out.
The next day the kids all grabbed there lunches and and headed out the door. Alex started out the door until Carol stopped her. "Hold it, young lady!" she said putting her hand out.
"Yes?" Alex asked as if she didn't know the reason why she stopped her.
"We agreed that you would stay home today remember?" Carol asked.
"But, Carol, I'm better! My temperature is back to normal! It has been since 10:30 last night!" said Alex. "Can I go to school today, please?"
"Fine," Carol gave in. "But if you feel dizzy, lighted headed or anything like that go to the nurse and I'll pick you up,"
"Okay, thanks Carol! Bye!" Alex walked out the door.
Peter and Jan were getting ready to go into the school when they heard their names. "Jan! Peter!" Alex shouted running up to the school building. They turned around and saw her.
"Alex! Jan said with surprise.
"I thought you were staying home today," said Peter.
"I was, I talked your mom into letting me go today," Alex said catching her breath.
"Well, are you sure you're alright?" Jan asked.
"Positive," replied Alex. She was still trying to catch her breath when Rachel walked up.
"Hey you guys!" she greeted. "Hey Alex, glad to see that you're all better,"
"Thanks," said Alex.
Jason saw Peter talking to his girlfriend. He ran over. "Brady!" he yelled. "I thought I told you to stay away from Rachel!"
Rachel rolled her eyes and tried stopping him. "Jason just-"
"No, it's okay," said Peter. He stood up straight and looked up and down at him. Peter was a head shorter than. "I'm not afraid of him," he was lying
"Oh yeah?" Jason asked suspiciously. "Are you testing me or are you really that stupid?" He shoved him back. Peter glared at him.
"Neither!" Peter said, almost shouting. "I should be able to hang out with whoever I want, that includes Rachel! She's my friend,"
Jason looked at Peter then down at the ground. He chuckled, he looked back up at Peter. "You made the biggest mistake, Brady," he said. Peter looked at with him with a bit of fear and confusion, but he hid all that with a straight serious face. He watched as Jason curled his fist and swung it at Peter and punched him in the nose. He flew onto the pavement, Jan and Alex helped him up. Rachel looked at Jason with disgust.
"Why did you do that for?" Jan shouted. Alex glared and Jason, with an angry facial expression she clutched and released her fist.
"It's what he deserved, that's what he gets for hanging around my girl," replied Jason. "You're a chump, Brady, chump!" At this point Alex shoved Jason back from her cousin and punched with hard force and hit his left eye. He fell back and looked at Alex with shock.
"That's what you deserve," Alex said angrily but trying not to shout.
Rachel walked over to Jason as he struggled to get up and he rubbed his sore eye. "That's it!" she shouted. "Were through!" and she walked off.
Everyone that day was shocked what Alex did, even Alex.